Farrell maintains number one spot on Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard with Fair Grounds Oaks romp

Apr 02, 2017 Jennifer Caldwell/Brisnet.com

Farrell completed a sweep of the Fair Grounds series for three-year-old fillies headed to the May 5 Kentucky Oaks (G1) when romping home by 3 1/4 lengths in Saturday’s Fair GroundsOaks (G2).

Regular rider Channing Hill, who has now been aboard the Malibu Moon filly for all of her seven career starts, guided the dark bay miss through 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.67 over the fast main track. Unlike in her previous races, Farrell was on or near the lead, instead finding herself taking a wide trip to the winner’s circle as the 2-5 favorite for trainer Wayne Catalano and owner/breeder Coffeepot Stables.

Farrell got the job done despite drifting a bit in the lane, adding 100 points to her previous total of 70 points toward a starting berth in the Kentucky Oaks. The Fair Grounds Oaks is part of the Road to the Kentucky Oaks and awarded 100-40-20-10 points to the respective top four.

Wicked Lick took full advantage of the 40 points to bring her total to 49 and position seven on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard. The chestnut lass finished second in the Silverbulletday Stakes and fourth in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (G2) behind Farrell previously, and this time around managed to stick her nose in front of 7-2 second choice Vexatious to be runner-up.

Vexatious debuted on the Kentucky Oaks Leaderboard in 12th after earning 20 points here, 7 1/2 lengths up on Daria’s Angel in fourth. That early pacesetter earned 10 points.

Farrell is now 7-5-0-1, $601,357, in her career. By taking the Fair Grounds Oaks she swept that tracks series of three-year-old filly stakes leading up to the Kentucky Oaks. The Kentucky-bred miss is now stranger to Churchill Downs, kicking off her racing career under the Twin Spires and closing out her juvenile campaign with a gate-to-wire, six-length victory in the Golden Rod Stakes (G2).

Out of the stakes-winning Unbridled’s Song mare Rebridled Dreams, who finished second in the 2003 Silverbulletday when it was a Grade 2, Farrell is a half-sister to Grade 1 victors Carpe Diem and J. B.’s Thunder.

FAIR GROUNDS OAKS QUOTES

Channing Hill, jockey Farrell, winner

“(Trainer) Wayne (Catalano) and the barn have done a great job with a really good filly. She’s terrific and just keeps getting better and better. She settled extremely well today. I didn’t ask her until we left the eighth pole, and I still had a ton of horse.”

Wayne Catalano, trainer Farrell, winner

“We feel very good (heading to the Kentucky Oaks). She’s doing everything we’ve asked her to do, and she’s coming around and she’s maturing. The way she’s settling down, she’s really learning.”

Brian Hernandez Jr., jockey Wicked Lick, second

“She’s a nice filly to ride. She keeps staying and the good thing is she keeps getting better and better. She keeps answering the question and each race she just steps it up more and more. She’s a great filly to ride because she just grinds it out and she wants to do her job, which makes it nice.”

Brendan Walsh, trainer Wicked Lick, second

“She’s Wicked Lick – she always tries. She ran great, she saved ground and she always shows up. It looks like ‘why not’ as far as the Oaks. She’s a good filly.”

Kent Desormeaux, jockey Vexatious, third

“She stuck her neck out there and tried to be second. I was proud of her. I thought she had everything her way and she responded. It was a beautiful trip and she’s getting faster. She’s a little keen, but not out of control and should improve.”